Laser Services

Dr. Austin uses laser technology for some patients during their orthodontic treatment. Not only does the use of lasers help to decrease time in orthodontic treatment, it can also be used to beautify your smile, and to make it easier to clean your teeth properly.

Some examples of challenges that the use of laser technology helps to solve are described below:

Gingivectomies:Gingiva is another word for "gums.” A gingivectomy is the reduction or removal of excess gum tissue. Some people have this excess gum tissue, which makes teeth appear smaller. With the use of a laser, Dr. Austin can remove or reshape this excess gum tissue, which in turn, exposes more surface area of the tooth. A "gummy smile" is then transformed into a more aesthetically pleasing one!

Additionally, sometimes gums can cover so much of a tooth, that the area needed to attach an orthodontic bracket is hidden. Dr. Austin can remove this extra gum tissue with the laser, thereby revealing the area of the tooth that needs to be bonded.

Frenectomies: A frenulum is a band of tissue connecting the lips, cheek, or tongue to the jawbone. A frenectomy is the reduction or removal of one of these bands of tissue. Some people have a frenulum that is attached too close to the teeth, which can cause gum recession or spaces to open up between teeth. With the use of the laser, Dr. Austin reduces this excess tissue between front teeth, resulting in a more stable and beautiful orthodontic result.

An example of Dr. Austin's work...A patient who received a Gingivectomy & Frenectomy:

BEFOREAFTER

Tooth Exposures: Impacted teeth are quite common. When a tooth is resistant to breaking through your gums on its own, orthodontic treatment time increases. With the help of a laser, Dr. Austin can remove the thin gum tissue that is covering the impacted tooth to obtain access to it. Once the tooth is exposed, Dr. Austin can place a bracket onto the tooth. Dr. Austin can then engage the bracket on the tooth with an orthodontic wire and begin the process of pulling it down to align it with the rest of the teeth. In summary, exposing an impacted tooth and engaging it with a wire speeds up the time it takes to move the tooth into its proper place!

An example of Dr. Austin's work. A patient who had an impacted canine which Dr. Austin exposed with the laser: